Alabama Gymnastics Ranked Third in Preseason Coaches' Poll
1/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The two-time defending Southeastern Conference champion Alabama gymnastics team, which opens the 2016 season on Sunday, Jan. 10 at UCLA, is ranked third in the preseason coaches' poll.
Alabama has finished in the top four nationally each of the last seven seasons, including back-to-back NCAA championships in 2011 and 2012 and a fourth-place finish in 2015.
Oklahoma is preseason No. 1, while three-time defending NCAA champions Florida are second. Utah, last year's runner-up, is slotted at No. 4 and the LSU Tigers are at No. 5. The Tide's host for its opening meet, the UCLA Bruins, are at No. 6 while Michigan and Stanford are seventh and eighth respectively. The Southeastern Conference closes out the top 10 with Georgia at No. 9 and Auburn at No. 10.
The SEC has five of its eight teams in the top 10 and all eight are in the top 25, with Arkansas coming in at 13th, Kentucky at 21st and Missouri, Alabama's home opening opponent, at 23rd.
In addition to facing the seven ranked SEC opponents this season and No. 6 UCLA, Alabama will also face No. 16 Denver and No. 17 Penn State during the regular season.
After opening on the road this Sunday, Alabama gets things started at home on Friday, Jan. 15 against Missouri. Season and individual meet tickets are available through the Alabama Ticket Office (205.348.2262) located in the lobby of Coleman Coliseum or online at RollTide.com.
For all the latest information on Alabama gymnastics, follow BamaGymnastics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and head coach Dana Duckworth on Twitter and Instagram at @UACoachDana.
